"We have identified some suspects who may be connected with the incident," he said.

Similar thefts have been reported from Gaya, Bhagalpur, Kishanganj, Vaishali, Begusarai, Saran, Samastipur, Jamui, Nalanda, Rohtas, Sitamarhi and Patna districts. Except in a few cases, police have been unable to recover the stolen idols.

An official of the Bihar archaeology department said that ancient idols made of "ashtadhatu" were in great demand in the international market.

--IANS

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